Green ID book faces retirement as Home Affairs ramps up smart ID rollout
Minister of Home Affairs Leon Schreiber announced this week during the 2025/26 budget vote speech that production of the green ID book will be phased out within months, citing its high vulnerability to fraud and identity theft.
'The green ID book is 500% more vulnerable to fraud,' Schreiber said in Parliament.
'It must go.'
While a final invalidation date has not yet been announced, the department is pushing to end production by the close of 2025 – though it remains unclear whether this refers to the calendar or financial year.
Currently, 101 of the 348 Home Affairs offices are still not equipped to issue the smart ID card, forcing the department to rely on outdated documentation.
Acknowledging the funding shortfall, Schreiber said, 'If we wait for money to upgrade every office, we'll wait forever.'
To address this, the department will accelerate its partnership with commercial banks, aiming to expand the number of smart ID-issuing bank branches from 30 to 130 by March 2026.
The bank-based rollout allows clients to apply for smart IDs and passports via banking apps, and even opt for home delivery, secured by facial recognition technology.
Schreiber also unveiled plans for a fully digital ID system.
Once every citizen and permanent resident has access to a smart ID card – a goal set for 2029 – the department will introduce digital versions of identity documents, accessible via smart devices.
A Digital ID Policy will soon be submitted to Cabinet for approval, after which it will be open for public comment.
Another key announcement involved faster turnaround times for South Africans living overseas, many of whom currently wait over a year for ID documents.
New international facilities will be launched by the end of July 2025, starting in Australia, New Zealand, and the UAE, with France, Germany, the Netherlands, and North America to follow.
The department promises a five-week turnaround for IDs and passports at these new sites. Green ID book production ends by end of 2025
Bank branches issuing smart IDs to expand to 130
Smart ID & passport orders via banking apps, with home delivery option
Digital ID system in development
Overseas services to speed up to 5-week turnaround
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